Obituary: Elmo BizzellATKINS — Elmo Gaines Bizzell, 87, of Atkins, died Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016, at his home. He was born Sept. 22, 1929, in Kenwood, to the late Elmer and Mary Krissell Bizzell. He was preceded in death by six sisters; one brother; and his wife of 60 years, Lillian Sweeden Bizzell. A retired service station owner and cattleman, he was a member of the Atkins Methodist Church and former member of the Atkins City Council and Atkins Planning Commission....

Obituary: Nancy CochranNancy Jannette Cochran, age 78, of Perryville passed away, Dec. 26, 2016, at her home. She was born Aug. 14, 1938, to Willis D. Rains and Geneva C. Bragg, in Russellville. Nancy worked as a lead person with Con-Agra Foods for many years. Nancy was preceded in death by her sister Bobbie Burris, and a daughter, Melissa Ennis. Nancy will be greatly missed. Survivors include, husband: William “Bug” Cochran of Perryville, sons, Jim, Gerald, Del and...

Obituary: Helen JohnsonDANVILLE — Helen Jewell Johnson, age 94, of Ola, passed away Monday, Dec. 26, 2016, at her home. She was born Jan. 7, 1922, in Baldknob to the late Bert and Effie Lewis McIntosh. She was a mother and homemaker. She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Herman Johnson and Noel Via; son, Carol and Alice Via; infant son Ronnie Delbert Via and grandson, Ronnie Adams. Survivors include her children, Donnie and Maria Via of Ola; Noelene Ba...

Obituary: Brenda ChristopherJACKSONVILLE — Brenda Joyce Christopher, 66, of Russellville, formerly of North Little Rock, entered Heaven’s gates to be with her Heavenly Father on Dec. 21, 2016. She was born on Dec.14, 1950, in Lonoke to the late Roy and Lois Parker. Brenda was a very godly woman who loved her family, friends, traveling and listening to Elvis. Brenda is also preceded in death by her brother Leo Parker. She is survived by her daughters, Angela Sergent of Ru...

Obituary: Tammy Dawn BorenTammy Dawn Boren, 47, of Atkins, died Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016, at UAMS Medical Center in Little Rock. She was born Aug. 3, 1969, in Russellville. She was preceded in death by her mother and step-father, Julie and husband Jim Richardson; step-mother, Sandy Bowden; and special friend, Sue Whitkanak. She is survived by her grandmother, Emma Brock; father, Larry Bowden; husband, Phillip Boren; three daughters, Holly Boren, Carlie Jones and Krystal...

Obituary: Ginger GarrenGinger Garren, 45, of Russellville died Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016, at St. Vincent Infirmary in Little Rock. The daughter of Jack and Loretta Stigall Weston, she was born Nov. 27, 1971, in Springfield, Mo. She was attending University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton. She married Steven Garren on May 4, 2001, in Russellville. She was previously a cashier with Little Caesars Pizza. Ginger’s accomplishments included volunteering for amput...

Obituary: Margaret NavarroDARDANELLE — Margaret Ann Navarro, age 74 of Russellville, died Friday, Dec. 23, 2016, at Arkansas Hospice River Valley Home in Russellville. She was born Aug. 22, 1942, at Dardanelle to the late Buddy and Louise Chesney Hodges. She attended the Faith Church in Dardanelle and also a member of the Gateway Pentecostal Church in Russellville. She was preceded in death by her parents; and a daughter, Donna Rook. Survivors include her husband, Davi...

Obituary: Brenda WaltersBrenda Kaye Walters, 55, of Scottsville passed away Friday, Dec. 23, 2016, at Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be 4-6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 26, 2016, at Russellville Family Funeral Chapel. Funeral service will be 10 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016, at Pleasant Grove Community Church in Dover. Burial will be in Langford Cemetery, under the direction of Russellville Family Funeral. A complete obituary will be published in Sunday’s ...

Obituary: Cindy SheltonDARDANELLE — Cindy Shelton, age 56, of Atkins, died Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016, at Arkansas Hospice River Valley Home in Russellville. She was born April 16, 1960, at Russellville to the late Robert J. and Willie Earnestine Fisher Barefield. She attended the Pine Ridge Freewill Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Mickal Shelton; and one nephew, Anthony Barefield. Survivors include her children, Eric Shelton and w...

Obituary: Danny MinorCLARKSVILLE — Danny “Dan” Kenneth Minor was born Febr. 3, 1948, in Kilgore, Texas, and passed away Dec. 22, 2016, in Clarksville at the age of 68. He was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth Warren Minor and Ruby Minor. He is survived by his wife, Brenda Ann Minor; two sons: Shawn Christopher Wimberly and wife Sarah of Pelsor; Brandon Keith Wimberly and wife Corrie of Siloam Springs; a brother, Dennis Minor of Kilgore, Texas; a sister, De...

Obituary: Mary BartonMary Lee Barton, 94, of Atkins, went home to be with The Lord on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016, at Atkins Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Atkins. The daughter of Albert and Mittie (Frazier) Killins, she was born Jan. 1, 1922, in Fort Smith. The Barton family worked on their dairy farm for many years and earned the title of Pope County Farm Family of the Year in 1952. She was a member of West Side Church of Christ and an active volunteer in the c...

Obituary: Brenda WaltersBrenda Kaye Walters, 55, of Scottsville passed away Friday, Dec. 23, 2016, at Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center. She was born Dec. 28, 1961, in Russellville, to Clyde Wiggins and Bobbi Jane Collins. She is preceded in death by her parents and one sister, Debbie Wiggins. She is survived by her loving husband of 42 years, Norman Walters of Scottsville; three children, Bruce Walters and Christina of Atkins, Jon Walters and Samantha of Dover, A...

Obituary: Carol RentfroCarol Rentfro, age 78 of Russellville, died Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016, at Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center. She was born Oct. 24, 1938, in Merced, Calif. All arrangements are pending and under the direction of Shinn Funeral Service of Russellville. A complete obituary will be published in a future edition of The Courier and will be available online at www.shinnfuneral.com.

Obituary: Thorpe Hamilton Jr.CLARKSVILLE — Thorpe Smith Hamilton Jr. was born Nov. 9, 1936 in Memphis, Tenn., and passed away Dec. 23, 2016 in Clarksville at the age of 80. He was retired from the Arkansas Department of Emergency Services, a veteran of the Air Force Reserve, a graduate of College of the Ozarks, a Mason, and a member of the Methodist Church. He is preceded in death by his parents, Thorpe Smith Hamilton Sr. and Mary Ethel Jeffries Hamilton; and a son, Thorp...

Obituary: Orville BuchananATKINS — Orville Dee Buchanan, 71, of Hattieville passed away Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2016, at St. Vincent’s at Morrilton. He was born Sept 4, 1945, in Florence, Ariz., son of Orvel and Viola Sewell Buchanan. He was a retired truck driver. He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Patsy M. Buchanan; son, Wayne Buchanan and wife Trish; daughter, Becky A. Teeples; brothers, James Buchanan, David Buchanan and wife Connie; s...

Obituary: Henry ArmesteadtATKINS — Henry Allen Armesteadt, 91, of Russellville passed away Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016, at the Arkansas Hospice River Valley Home in Russellville. He was born Jan. 7, 1925, in White County, son of the late Ed and Rosabell Lacy Armesteadt. He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Lucy Adams Armesteadt; and four children, Melvin, Larry, Chess and Trudy Hardman. He is survived by his wife, Lorene Armesteadt; children, Mary Rosenfiel...

Obituary: Gina SmithGina Latesa Smith, age 33, of Russellville, died Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016. She was born Dec. 16, 1983, at Russellville to Sharon Gaye Randolph Caldwell. She was preceded in death by her grandfather Harold Smith Ward, her companion and father of her son, Walter Lee Sharp III. Survivors include her mother, Sharon Caldwell of New Hampshire; sons, Brandon Harris and Mayne Lee Sharp both of Russellville; sister, Sharon Sanders, and brother Robert Sa...